Men’s basketball: Chris Kaman, Germany

Once, Chris Kaman was just the Los Angeles Clippers’ beloved flake. Now he’s an international man of mystery.

Once just a local legend, Kaman belongs to the world now as a member of the German Olympic team and the most controversial member, at that.

It’s not unusual for Americans to play for other teams – one of Kaman’s teammates is Demond Green, a 6-foot-1 guard from Killeen, Texas. But Kaman is the only American-born NBA player flying different colors here.

“I figured I was an American, I’m playing for Germany, traitor is the first thing that comes to your mind,” said Kaman after Tuesday’s 87-64 wipeout by Greece.

“But I don’t care. I’m here to do what I want to do. … I’m still an American citizen. I still play in the NBA. I still live in Los Angeles. I’m still from Michigan. I just chose to go with my heritage a little farther back (German grandparents) and see if they’d allow me to play for them and I did.”

Los Angeles Times